The Women’s Tour of Flanders on Sunday promises a showdown between two of cycling’s most dominant forces: three-time winner Lotte Kopecky and Demi Vollering, who has transformed into a Classics contender capable of winning any race she enters. With Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, Lorena Wiebes, Marianne Vos, and Puck Pieterse also on the start list, this could be the deepest women’s Flanders field in the race’s history.
The 168-kilometer race starts and finishes in Oudenaarde, taking the peloton over the cobbled bergs of Flanders in what has become one of the most prestigious events on the Women’s WorldTour calendar. And with the decisive one-two punch of the Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg looming in the finale, the tactics will be as fascinating as the racing itself.
Kopecky Eyes a Record-Breaking Fourth Win
Lotte Kopecky has owned the Women’s Tour of Flanders in recent years, winning in 2022, 2023, and 2025. A fourth victory on Sunday would make her the sole record holder across both the men’s and women’s editions of the race — an extraordinary achievement that would cement her status as the greatest Flanders rider of her generation.
The Belgian champion brings a combination of attributes that is almost uniquely suited to this race. Her explosive power on the steep cobbled climbs, her ability to time trial away from small groups, and her tactical intelligence in reading the race make her the default favorite whenever she pins a number on in Flanders.
Kopecky’s SD Worx-Protime team is the strongest squad in women’s cycling, and they will control the race with military precision. With teammates capable of setting a punishing pace on the approach to the key climbs, Kopecky can conserve energy until the decisive moments — a luxury not every favorite enjoys.
But Kopecky is also beatable. Her 2024 edition ended without victory, proving that even the greatest Flanders specialists can have off days. And the field arriving in Oudenaarde this year is arguably stronger than any she has faced before.
Vollering: The Most Dangerous Challenger
Demi Vollering has been on an extraordinary trajectory that has taken her from a stage race specialist to a genuine all-rounder capable of winning Monuments. Her FDJ-Suez team has built a strong Classics squad around her, with the in-form Elise Chabbey providing crucial support on the climbs.
Vollering’s climbing power is elite — arguably the best in the women’s peloton on sustained efforts. On the short, sharp climbs of Flanders, she can match almost anyone’s acceleration. Where she potentially holds an advantage over Kopecky is on the flat roads between the climbs, where her time-trial engine allows her to drive a gap that others cannot close.
The question for Vollering is tactical. Flanders rewards experience and positioning as much as raw power, and Kopecky’s years of dominating this race give her an instinctive understanding of when to attack and when to wait. Vollering will need to ride a tactically perfect race to beat the Belgian on her home roads.
The Outsiders Who Could Win
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma-Lease a Bike) finished second last year and has the talent to go one better. The former cyclocross and mountain bike world champion has exceptional bike handling on cobblestones and the explosive power to attack on the steepest gradients. Her willingness to race aggressively — rather than wait for a small group sprint — could disrupt the Kopecky-Vollering dynamic.
Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) is the fastest sprinter in women’s cycling, and if the race comes down to a small group finish, she is almost unbeatable. However, Wiebes will likely work for Kopecky in the early and middle phases of the race, only playing her own card if Kopecky is unable to escape.
Marianne Vos remains a threat in any one-day race. The Dutch legend has won virtually everything in cycling and brings decades of tactical experience to the cobbles. While her pure climbing power may not match the younger favorites, her ability to position herself perfectly and exploit moments of hesitation makes her dangerous until the finish line.
Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) won the 2024 edition and has the pedigree and power to challenge again. Her UAE team is in strong form this spring, and Longo Borghini’s ability to ride from the front suits the demands of Flanders perfectly.
The Key Moments
As with the men’s race, the Women’s Tour of Flanders typically reaches its decisive phase in the final 30 kilometers. The Oude Kwaremont — a 2.2-kilometer cobbled climb that tilts up to 11% — is where the race begins to split. Riders who cannot hold position on the Kwaremont are effectively eliminated from contention.
The Paterberg follows almost immediately — a brutally steep cobbled wall that averages 12.9% with a maximum of 20%. This is where races are won and lost. The acceleration required to crest the Paterberg at the front, combined with the positioning battle into the narrow climb, creates a natural selection that usually leaves only a handful of riders in contention.
From the top of the Paterberg to the finish in Oudenaarde is approximately 13 kilometers of flat roads. If a rider can crest the Paterberg alone or with a numerical advantage, the finish becomes a formality. If a small group forms, the sprint becomes critical — and that is where the tactical chess between Kopecky, Vollering, and the others could produce a thrilling conclusion.
What Makes This Edition Special
The 2026 Women’s Tour of Flanders arrives at a moment of unprecedented growth for women’s cycling. Television coverage has expanded dramatically, prize money has increased, and the racing quality has reached levels that rival the men’s peloton in terms of tactical sophistication and athletic performance.
The Tour de France Femmes’ expansion to include Mont Ventoux later this year reflects the same upward trajectory that has made races like Flanders must-watch events. Paris-Roubaix Femmes follows next weekend, giving the cobbled Classics a one-two punch of Monument racing that showcases the very best of women’s cycling.
Whether Kopecky makes history with a fourth win, Vollering announces herself as the new queen of Flanders, or an outsider produces a stunning upset, Sunday’s race will be appointment viewing for any cycling fan. The quality of the field, the drama of the course, and the stakes for every rider make this one of the most anticipated Women’s Tour of Flanders editions ever staged.
